#dorain x male!reader

[writingfromkitchenator]

Dorian ~ It’s Good To Hear You Laugh

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Requested by @jaxtheninja

Words: 1,132

Warnings: Male!reader, worrying, tiny smidge of angst, but mostly fluff

Dorian was starting to get worried about you, ever since the attack on Haven, you’d been very quiet, and while you’d come by a couple of times, even helped him with his own problem, he could still tell something wasn’t quite right.

“Can you hardly blame ‘em Sparkler?”  Varric asked him.  “I’d be feeling pretty shit too with all the stuff they’ve had to deal with, a brave face only does so much, and here, in safety, it’s going to show more.”

He didn’t like this answer. “Surely there’s something that we can do?”

“Well, I’m sure another kiss or two would work,” Varric smirks at him, even as Dorian huffs.  “You could always give that a go.”

“While I would love for something so simple to work,” Dorian said, turning away.  “It’s not going be anything that easy, it’s not some story Varric.”

“I don’t know Sparkler,” Varric said after him.  “It could just be that he needs some company.”

Dorian spent longer thinking on this than he should have, to the point he almost made the unwise decision of asking Sera for help, luckily Bull distracting him before he could get anywhere close, and then laughing at him when Dorian explained what he was trying to do.

“Yes, thank you,” Dorian said a little bitterly as Bull continued to laugh.  “Is it really so hard to want to do something for him? Just ease the pressure off a bit?”

Bull wipes a tear from his eye and shakes his head.  “Of course not, but don’t you think that you’re overthinking it?  Just a little bit?  He’s a simple man Dorian, so keep it simple.”

Dorian snorts, still not overly convinced, despite multiple comments to that similar effect by now.  “I hardly think someone titled “Inquisitor” is going to have anything simple thrown his way.”

“Which is exactly why you need to keep it simple,” Bull said, maybe a little gently, trying to get Dorian to understand.  “The boss’s life is as crazy and messed up as it gets.  You want to help him through that?  Then slow things down for him.  You like each other right?”  He ignored the slight flush that came to Dorian’s cheeks.  “Then do something quiet, I promise that’s all he needs.”

Folding his arms, Dorian’s brow furrowed.  “Right.”

Then you got hurt on one of the many missions they went on, Dorian helping you back towards Skyhold, your arm over his shoulder as he limped heavily, Cassandra and Blackwall keeping a careful guard, their concerned expression carefully hidden with every flinch you made on every step.

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?”  Dorian huffed, unsure of whether he was more annoyed or worried.  “Just throwing yourself into anything that comes our way?”

You grimaced at him.  “It stopped the attack on you didn’t it?”

Dorian pursed his lips. “Yes, but you are far more important than me in all this.  I hardly want the death of the Inquisitor on my hands, can you even imagine how that would look?”

“Not to me you’re not,” You kept your gaze away from his as he shot you a look.  “And I’d come back from the dead before I let anyone try and tarnish your name, or you, like that.”

His chest ached as he looked at you.  “Are you feeling alright Y/N?  That was awfully grim of you, more so than usual.”

Your chuckle was dry and Dorian was not convinced.  “Pain makes me grumpy, you can tell me to shut up.”

“Like I’d ever do that,” Dorian said quietly, thinking.  “Unless talking makes your leg hurt more.”

The laugh you gave was more genuine this time, meeting his gaze briefly.  “Not quiet Dorian, but thank you for your concern.”

“Next time, someone else is going with you two,” Cassandra said up in front, sounding less than impressed. “Then they have to put up with all the sap.”

“You love it Cassandra, admit it.”  You said, grinning, even as Blackwall chuckles.  “Or do I actually need to tell a certain dwarf-”

“No!”  Cassandra snapped, her face turning red.  “Thank you!”

Dorian watched you, watched the way that just the brief conversation changed you, and he knew that maybe, not that he’d ever admit it to anyone that had told him, they were right.

He waited until you were back on your feet, till your wound had healed over and you looked at least somewhat better, and as he told you he’d be waiting in your room that night, it suddenly hit him that he cared a lot more than he should.

Which, much later that night, brought up that inevitable question and Dorian found himself suddenly unsure, even against all his worrying of you that he’d done, he suddenly whether it was the right thing.

“Dorian,” Your voice was quiet, but Dorian didn’t dare face it, worried at what he’d see.  “You know I’m here for you as much as you’ve been here for me.”

He frowns and looks around at you.  “That defeats the purpose.”

“Of what?”  You smiled at him.  “Last I checked, supporting each other was a mutual task.”

Folding his arms, Dorian looks at him unconvinced.  “Yes, but you’ve already got the weight of the world on your shoulders, you don’t need me as well.”

You chuckled and pat the bed next to you.  “Come here Dorian,” A little reluctantly, he listens, and you lean against him, taking his hand.  “Thank you.”

“For what?”  Dorian asked, although, he definitely wasn’t complaining about his hand being in yours.

“For being here.”  You said.  “And for trying to make me feel better.  I promise just you being here is enough though.”

Dorian takes a moment to let that sink in before smiling softly.  “Do you even know how long I stressed over a way of trying to make you feel better?”

You start chuckling.  “Oh yes, Varric told me.”

“I think I need to have a word to do that dwarf.”  Dorian grumbled.

The chuckle was starting to turn into laughter.  “I wouldn’t just blame him, The Iron Bull, Cassandra, Leliana, Blackwall, Cole, kind of, and even Cullen all seemed to get great delight out of telling me.”

“What?  Why those…those…”

But Dorian was cut off by your laughter, now filling your room.

He pouts a little, watching you.  “You’re not even thinking about my feelings while you laugh, are you?”

“Of course I am, that’s why I’m laughing.”

Dorian sighs, but smiles broadly, tipping your head up so you had to look at him, your eyes shining as you grinned at him.  “While I absolutely hate you right now, amatus, it’s good to hear you laughing again.”

You close the distance between the two of you and Dorian knew, that in this moment at least, he really had nothing to worry about.